By ABDULLAH 
The hustle and bustle of a Chinese market tells you more about economics than any textbook ever could. Picture a street in Beijing: a vendor quotes 1,000 RMB for a handcrafted item, the buyer counters with 200, and after some cheerful back-and-forth, they settle on 250. Both leave satisfied.
This simple act of bargaining reflects something bigger China’s economic DNA. From street vendors to multinational CEOs, the Chinese mindset is rooted in persistence, creativity, and a refusal to let any opportunity slip away. It is this very spirit that transformed China into an $18.7 trillion economy and lifted millions out of poverty. For Pakistan, especially under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), this model carries valuable lessons far beyond infrastructure.
China’s rise didn’t come only from factories or government policies. It came from people. Across big cities and small towns, business owners don’t wait for customers — they go after them. They showcase, convince, negotiate, and hustle.
This is not desperation; it is a deep belief that every interaction carries a chance to grow. It is a culture that sees opportunity everywhere — whether it’s selling to a tourist in Beijing or pitching a billion-dollar deal at an international conference.
China is unique because it can produce both cutting-edge technology and affordable alternatives. On one side, the country leads in 5G, electric vehicles, and quantum computing. On the other, it manufactures budget-friendly products that keep every consumer, from students to industrial giants, within reach.
This “serve everyone” approach keeps the economy moving at every level. It also explains why Chinese companies, hardened by fierce competition at home, are aggressive and proactive when they step into global markets.
Unlike many countries where growth is concentrated in a few big cities, China has built multiple engines of progress. Each province is encouraged to identify its own strengths and build industries around them.
- Guangdong, with a GDP of $2 trillion, is famously called the “world’s factory.”
- Zhejiang and Jiangsu turned local advantages into thriving industrial hubs.
- Even rural regions like Guizhou, once poor, are now rising with government support for tech and modern industries.
This decentralised model ensures that no region is left behind — a lesson Pakistan could apply to provinces like Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab.
One of the most powerful but less-discussed aspects of China’s growth is the economic empowerment of women. In rural villages, women who once had little access to formal banking now run successful e-commerce businesses.
They sell local goods online, reach national and even global markets, and emerge as community leaders. This not only improves family incomes but also revitalises entire villages. For Pakistan, where women’s economic participation remains low, this is a crucial takeaway.
As personal incomes rose, China created one of the world’s strongest consumer markets. Today, sectors like electric cars, tourism, and smart appliances are powered less by exports and more by domestic demand.
This internal engine protects China from global shocks and creates a cycle of innovation, testing, and expansion. Pakistani industries could benefit from a similar focus on strengthening local markets instead of depending solely on exports or aid.
CPEC has already laid the foundation for infrastructure and connectivity. But the next step is cultural and economic transformation:
- Encourage entrepreneurship: Promote a national mindset that celebrates negotiation, risk-taking, and persistence.
- Empower provinces: Invest in each region’s unique resources — agriculture in Punjab, minerals in Balochistan, ports in Sindh, and tourism in KPK.
- Boost women and youth participation: Unlock untapped human potential through education, skills, and access to finance.
- Promote internal markets: Strengthen local consumption by supporting SMEs, start-ups, and digital commerce.
China’s success story is not just about money, factories, or policies it’s about a relentless spirit to keep moving forward. For Pakistan, the most valuable import from China may not be goods, roads, or power plants, but this very cultural engine of persistence and opportunity-seeking.
If Pakistan can foster this same resilient mindset from its street vendors to its boardrooms — the country could write its own economic miracle in the years ahead.